A bit of real Renewal...

Well, this is interesting, and hopeful. The Catholic Herald (U.K.) is reporting signs that the Holy See is preparing to broaden the conditions under which priests and people can avail themselves of the permission to use the traditional Mass.

Growing up when I did -- the late 1960s/early 1970s, we heard a great deal about how incomparably superior the revised liturgical arrangements were to the utterly inferior ones which obtained before 'Renewal.' I have therefore always been perplexed by the way liturgists fly into paroxysms of horror ar the suggestion that people might be given a choice between the two. Archbishop Weakland once commented that the granting of the Tridentine Indult had completely altered the atmosphere of the Church, which puzzled me.

If one is genuinely convinced that one if offering a superior product, competition isn't something to be feared. Is it?

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Maybe if more Latin Masses are said by young Priests it will bring extra special blessings to them and to us. It might just be that this is what our loving God is waiting for and it might just be this is what God prefers to hear that His Church is speaking in one language from all over this world, one language that praises Him and His beloved Son, Jesus by us unworthy humans.

Posted by: Ezekiel -
Jun. 25, 2004 4:38 AM ET USA

I used to think "The Traditional Latin Mass is beautiful, put we've got other issues that need to be addressed also." I now think that I got things backwards. It is through the Mass that all graces flow, therefore we need to return to the Mass that formed every Saint in the calendar, that safeguarded the Faith through every age, and every heresy, and every persecution.
The Mass of the Martyrs builds up the Church and destroys error. Let us get that right and all other things will be given to us

Posted by: -
Jun. 24, 2004 10:11 PM ET USA

I don't know how anybody could, after seeing what has happened after V-ll and what the American Bishops implanted as "the Mass"not lay the Blame on The Novus Ordo. I'm not saying it is invalid but when you look at the way it has been abused[quantitivly more than any abuses in the Latin mass] one cannot but help but come to the conclusion that graces are not flowing from that abused Mass,I'm old enough to have known what it was like before the Novus Ordo and yes Gertrude it is possible.

Posted by: -
Jun. 24, 2004 9:26 AM ET USA

We have two lost generations: young parents and their children. We hear about the number of converts but never about the leakage. I once tried to point this out to our bishop but he dismissed me as being a pessimist.

Posted by: Jim E -
Jun. 22, 2004 3:44 PM ET USA

Either the Latin or the Pope Paul VI are fine. The real issue is our own devotion to Jesus and His Church. Coach, like you, my children attended Catholic schools and learned a bunch of Humanist tripe. However, the priests and parents in their 30s can help lead a renewal of Catholic education by demanding classes dedicated to building a child's relationship with God. That would truly be a renewal and reform that is lasting. Be active and insistent with your schools; force them to be Catholic.

Posted by: Charles134 -
Jun. 22, 2004 12:33 PM ET USA

Re: Coach's post about writing off a generation: I'm also in my thirties. I received little formation (and quite a bit of malformation) from the Church. It galls me now to hear the emphasis on the "youth", especially speculation that the Pope's strategy is to give up on adults and focus on the youth(WYDs). Nous sommes tout un genertion perdu, and all that, but "perdu" reeks of "perdition" and I wonder if our betters realize that it's to perdition that some of my generation has been abandoned.

Posted by: Gertrude -
Jun. 22, 2004 11:15 AM ET USA

About Kate's "True Mass". I understand that you love the beauty and awe of the Latin Mass. But you are irrevocably wrong about the Novus Ordo. If there were no graces to be conferred by the Almighty at the Mass that billions of Catholics worship at, then we have no One, Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church left. Jesus has abandoned us. "True" worship CANNOT be offered only by those who attend the Latin Mass. The grace given by God to His people during the Sacrifice of the Mass is the same.

Posted by: -
Jun. 21, 2004 9:54 PM ET USA

The resurrection of the Tridentine Mass is essential if the Church is ever to rise from its present moribund condition. It is necessary, but not sufficient. Love of Truth and the courage to call error what it is, in season and out, are also necessary. Concern for the glory of God and the salvation of souls must again take center stage. Until then the Church will be denied the graces it needs; the Mahony's and Kaspers and McBriens will continue to speak and souls will remain in the darkness.

Posted by: -
Jun. 21, 2004 12:54 PM ET USA

After VII I hoped that the madness would somehow go away and we would have our "Real Church" back. Silly me.. My beloved Church of which I would have loved to share with my children is no where to be found. Two of my sons haven't practiced the Faith ever in spite of so-called Cath schools. One has considered the Luth. rel. He went thru 4 yrs.@Quigley So.-Chgo. All of my sons, no girls, are in their 30's. It seems to me the Bishops wrote this age group off a long time ago.

Posted by: -
Jun. 20, 2004 10:50 PM ET USA

The beauty of the Latin mass and the Gregorian Chant are beautiful beyond compare.

Posted by: -
Jun. 20, 2004 8:48 AM ET USA

Why does this slow moving detente style negotiation sound so defeatist? It reminds of Catholics in England preparing to broaden the conditions under which they won't be executed, drawn and quartered.
The Lord is zealous for His House. If 50% or more of North American Catholics are apostate, then let the house cleaning beginning with an open promulgation about the Latin Mass.

Posted by: -
Jun. 20, 2004 8:36 AM ET USA

I'm not sure what Kate ment when she said "the real Mass." The Mass of Pope Paul VI is a real Mass as well. They are both real Masses. I know the renewal went off the deap end, however, when the Mass of Paul VI is said with reverence, with true and beautiful music, and it may be said in Latin (hopefuly a more literal translation is coming soon), the Mass is beautiful. I'm 30 years old and an ordained priest. The Mass of Paul VI is all I know. Lets have a true renewal and quit crying. God bless.

Posted by: -
Jun. 19, 2004 12:14 PM ET USA

Pope Paul VI never abrogated the True Mass while he was busy promulgating the Novus Ordo. If he had, he would have been under anathema, according to Quo Primum.
No one needs an "Indult" to have the True Mass. That's a lie spread by Modernists who hate the Latin Mass! (In this diocese it's left up to the pastors of each parish, though it seems the bishop is in favor of the Latin Mass.) I don't think the Novus Ordo presents the Catholic faith, nor gives any graces, and I steer clear of it.

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